Inserter with document responsive track control means



Sept. 6, 1966 E. SATHER ET AL 3,271,022

INSERTER WITH DOCUMENT RESPONSIVE TRACK CONTROL MEANS Filed July 11,1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 fig W @M %ORNEYS Sept. 6, 1966 E. SATHER ET AL3,271,022

INSERTER WITH DOCUMENT RESPONSIVE TRACK CONTROL MEANS Filed July 11,1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 g:- INVENTORS fizgezze Jarfzer Zeser [52206 1 A TTRNE YS Sept. 6, 1966 SATHER ET AL 3,271,022

INSERTER WITH DOCUMENT RESPONSIVE TRACK CONTROL MEANS Filed July 11,1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTQRS Eagezze fialzr Zas'er fzfioczjrer UnitedStates Patent 3,271,022 INSERTER WITH DOCUMENT RESPONSIVE TRACK CONTROLMEANS Eugene Sather, Washington, and Lester H. Stocker, Phillipsburg,N.J., 'assignors to Bell & Howell Company,

Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Filed July 11, 1963, Ser. No.294,367 14 Claims. (Cl. 270-58) This invention relates to improvementsin inserters of the general type disclosed in detail in A. H. WilliamsPatent 2,325,455 dated July 27, 1943 (which is hereby made a part ofthis specification by reference) being especially concerned with new andimproved means for controlling the insert transportation mechanism orinsert track, and more particularly the intermittent advances of theinsert conveyor, of the machine to enable respective groups of companioninserts to remain together when separated from a stack of insert groupsand deposited in the track.

Machines essentially as comprehensively disclosed in the aforesaidpatent are the well known Phillipsburg inserters. These inserters effectthe removal and/or collation of document type pieces of mail and likematerial from one or more stacks, insertion of the same into envelopes,and sealing, stamping and stacking the envelopes ready for mailing. Thisis accomplished in a high speed, continuous, automatic fashion bywithdrawing stacked inserts from one or more insert stations locatedalongside insert transportation mechanism, generally referred to as aninsert track, comprising a conveyor which is intermittently advanced intimed relation to oscillating gripper arm means, having jaw structure,which successively remove the inserts from the stack in the magazinestructure at each insert station and deposit the withdrawn inserts ontothe conveyor of the insert track. The inserts eventually arrive at aninserting station Where they are stuffed into the envelopes.

In normal conventional operation, single inserts are withdrawn from eachinsert station magazine successively so that either a single insert in aone station machine or a collection of individual inserts frommulti-stations will be deposited on the insert track, as is true formass mailings, and the like, but the need has arisen for controllingoperation of the machine to adapt it for collating indeterminate numbersof companion documents or insert pieces in each insert group. Forexample, in selective customer, purchaser, patron, and like mailingswhere the addressees are to receive groups of already collated butseparate companion documents or pieces, the machine must discriminateand be selective to withdraw from the stack of grouped pieces to depositon the insert track all of the pieces in grouped relation which belongtogether. By way of practical example, where the addressees are toreceive dividend, interest, refund or like checks with optional purchaseof something of value represented by a document or a plurality ofdocuments, such as one or more bonds of a predetermined value, therespective checks with the companion document or documents such as bondswhere requested or ordered are stacked together by groups. Certain ofthe checks may be alone, others may have one companion piece associatedtherewith and others may have a plurality of companion pieces therewith,and the machine must be selective as to the varying quantities ofgrouped inserts as successively reached in the stack.

Accordingly, it is an important object of the present invention toprovide new and improved means in an inserter for controlling the inserttrack responsive to the documents handled by the machine.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel insert trackoperation controlling device.

3,271,022 Patented Sept. 6, 1966 ice A further object of the inventionis to provide new and improved means for controlling the dwell intervalsof the insert track in accordance with variable numbers of inserts to begrouped together but individually successively withdrawn from an insertstation magazine stack.

Still another object of the invention is to provide new and improvedmeans for controlling the operation of the ratchet indexing pawl forindexing the insert track.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will bereadily apparent from the following detailed description of a preferredembodiment thereof taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings,in which:

FIGURE 1 is a more or less schematic fragmentary vertical sectionaldetail view through an inserter, embodying features of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a more or less schematic vertcial sec tional elevationaldetail view of a photoelectric eye detector device adapted to beemployed in the control system of the machine;

FIGURE 3 is a schematic diagram of the electrical control circuitryinvolved in the control system;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged fragmentary detail side elevational view of theinsert track conveyor indexing pawl and ratchet mechanism and thecontrol mechanism therefor; and

FIGURE 5 is a rear elevational view of the mechanism.

In the generally schematic illustration in FIGURE 1 only those featuresof the inserter are depicted which are pertinent to an understanding ofthe present invention which is concerned with an accessory or additionto the machine represented by the disclosure in Patent 2,325,455included by reference herein. Therefore, ele ments of the machineassembly not immediately related to the present invention have beenomitted from the present drawings. In this machine a supporting frame 10carries a working table 11 at suitable elevation and of a preferredlength to accommodate as many insert stations at the rear side thereofas preferred, one such insert station 12 being depicted. An operatingmechanism housing 13 is carried by the front of the machine frame.

Supported by upright standards 14 attached to the rear portion of themachine frame is a rock shaft 15 carrying as many gripper arms 17 asthere are insert stations 12 and each provided with a gripper jawassembly 18 operable in the cyclical oscillating swinging movements ofthe gripper arms over the table 11 from a starting position over thefront of the table to an insert gripping position at the rear of thetable to grip the front margin of an insert 19 in the associated insertmagazine or hopper at the station 12, as deflected downwardly at thebottom of the magazine by a suction cup device 20, and pull the insertfrom the bottom of the stack toward the front of the table 11. Operationof the gripper jaws 18 of the gripper arms is synchronized to releasethe withdrawn insert in each instance as the arm reaches a properposition adjacent to the front of an insert track 21 locatedlongitudinally on the table 11. As the insert is deposited in the track21, in each instance, it comes to rest in the path of conveyor lugs orpins 22 on a conveyor chain 23 trained over appropriate sprocket gearsincluding a drive sprocket 24 carried by a rotary shaft 25 having a rearend portion carrying corotatively a beveled pinion 27 which meshes witha beveled driving gear 28 (FIGS. 1, 4 and 5) mounted corotatively onashaft 29 parallel to the back of the table 11 and supported by a bearingbracket 30 which is secured fixedly to a rear vertical apron plate 31depending below the table 11 on the frame 10.

Means are provided for indexing travel of the conveyor 23 with insertwithdrawing and depositing cycles of the gripper arms 17, comprising aratchet disk or wheel 32 mounted corotatively on the shaft 29 andprovided with a series of equidistantly spaced peripheral ratchet teethor shoulders 33, herein comprising four, adapted to be successivelyengaged by an oscillating pawl 34 for incrementally advancing theindexing ratchet wheel 32 and through the bevel gear train ortransmission, the shaft 25 and thereby the driving sprocket 24 and theconveyor chain 23 by one inserter station increment with normally anintermediate dwell synchronized with one cycle of operation of thegripper arms 17. Means for synchronously driving the pawl 34 comprise athree armed lever 35 freely oscillatably mounted on the shaft 29 betweenthe bevel gear 28 and the ratchet disk wheel 32 and having one arm 37 onwhich the indexing pawl 34 is mounted. A second arm 38 of theoscillating lever is connected by a connecting rod 39 to a crank 40fixed on a main drive shaft 41 mounted on the machine frame below theconveyor 23. As the shaft 41 drives the crank 40 continuously, the armedlever 35 is cyclically oscillated for not only actuating the indexingpawl 34, but also for synchronously oscillating the gripper arm carryingrock shaft through a third lever arm 42 having connected thereto agenerally upwardly extending link rod 43 adjustably connected on itsupper end to the rear end portion of a rock lever 44 fixedly attached asby keying or the like to the rock shaft 15. Thereby, in each cycle ofthe crank 40, the gripper arms 17 are oscillated through one full cycleand the indexing pawl 34 is driven through one full indexing cycle.

According to the present invention, means are provided at one of theinsert stations 12 for controlling the conveyor indexing means, and moreparticularly the pawl 34 to coordinate the length of dwell of theconveyor 23 with any indefinite number, from one up, of companioninserts to be Withdrawn individually in successive cycles of theassociated gripper arm 17 and deposited in grouped, stacked together orcollated relation in the insert track 21 so as to be conveyed as a groupby the conveyor 23. To this end, at least one of the inserts in eachgroup has a sensing identification, and sensing means are mounted in thepath of movement of the inserts from the stack in the magazine of theinsert station 12 which means are sensitive to the indentification tocontrol the operations of the means for controlling the indexingmechanism and more particularly the indexing pawl 34. Such sensingidentification or sensible means, in one practical arrangement,comprises a hole 45 (FIG. 2) in an insert 19a serving as a control ormaster piece for an insert group, which may include itself alone, but isadapted to include an indefinite number of companion inserts 19b whichare free from the indentification 45.

As the master insert 19a is withdrawn from the magazine, sensing meansread the identification 45 and provide a signal ordering an indexingadvance of the conveyor 23 to clear the track 21 for receiving themaster insert 19a and its companion insert or inserts 19b, if any.However, since the companion inserts 1% do not have any sensible means,their passing the sensing means affords no signaling response thereinand, accordingly, the conveyor dwell is prolonged through completion ofthe withdrawing and depositing cycle of the gripper arm in respect tothe companion piece or insert 1%, and any succeeding companion inserts19b until another master insert 19a through its identification 45 causesthe system to respond and eifect indexing by advance of the conveyor 23to carry the preceding group onward to a succeeding insert station whereanother insert of a type to be included with each of the groups iscollated therewith.

In a suitable sensing device, a photoelectric cell arrangement isemployed including a diode 47 mounted as on a bracket 48 on one side ofthe path of movement of the inserts 19 from the magazine to the inserttrack, while a lamp 49 is mounted on the opposite side of the path of*movement as on a bracket 50. Through this arrangement the diodereceives the light source beam Whenever the identification hole 45registers with the electric eye. Apertured guides 51 and 52 associatedwith respectively the diode and the light source lamp assist in guidingthe successive inserts through the sensing zone.

In FIGURE 3 is shown a diagrammatic circuit in which the electric eyeassembly is operatively connected and including a master switch 53 andmain power leads 54 connected to any suitable source of electrical powersuch as volt alternating line current. An amplifier 55 is connected tothe power source leads 54 and has the diode 47 connected thereto foramplifying the diode signal when energized and transmitting such signalto a relay 57 which is connected through a cycling switch 58 to a vacuumor suction control solenoid 59 and an indexing control solenoid 60. Thelamp 49 receives current from a low voltage power supply 61.

In the normal cycling operation of the machine the solenoids 59 and 60remain deenergized and there is an indexed advance of the conveyor 23cycled with each oscillating cycle of the gripper arms 17. If a sensingidentification hole 45 registers with the electric eye during a regularcycle, the signal put in through the amplifier 55 calls upon the relay57 to maintain the solenoids 59 and 60 deenergized and inactive.However, when the electric eye is blanked out in the cycle by passage ofan unperforated insert 1% through the sensing zone, the lack of signalthrough the amplifier 55 permits the relay 57 to send an energizingcurrent to the solenoids 59and 60 whereupon the vacuum solenoid 59disconnects suction from the suction cups 20 of all of the insertstations 12 beyond the insert station containing the stack of groups ofinserts 19 and at the same time the energized solenoid 60 disables theconveyor indexing mechanism to prolong the dwell of the conveyor untilthe companion insert joins the master insert of the group.

Support for the index controlling solenoid 60 is provided by a mountingplate or bracket 60a secured to de pend below the skirt plate 31 so thatby means of a connecting link 62, the upper end of the solenoid armaturecan conveniently be connected to an adjacent end of a bell crank 63which is freely oscillatably mounted on an axis concentric with theshaft 29 by means such as a removable bolt 64 secured into the end ofthe shaft opposite the bevel gear 28. A generally upstanding arm 65 ofthe bell crank lever is adjustably secured as by means of a screw 67extending through a transversely elongated adjustment slot 68 to adisabling lever arm 69 which is concentrically freely oscillatablyjournalled on the adjacent end portion of the shaft 29. On its head end,the disabling arm 69 has a cam block 70 provided with a disabling cam 71disposed in the normal cycling relationship of the mechanism in aninactive position relative to the indexing pawl 34 but is arranged formovement into disabling relation to the pawl when the solenoid 60 isenergized. Thus, in the normal, inactive, deenergized condition of thesolenoid 60, biasing means, in the form of a coiled tension spring 72connected at one end to the lower long arm of the bell crank 63 and atits opposite end to a stud 73 projecting from the bracket 30, holds thebell crank in a counterclockwise position as shown in full line inFIGURE 4, wherein the disabling cam 71 is disposed in such relation tothe underside of the indexing pawl 34 that in the return stroke of thepawl reciprocation it remains in contact with the perimeter of theratchet wheel 32 so that the pawl can engage freely with the nextsucceeding one of the racthet shoulders 33.

Upon energization of the solenoid 60, the bell crank 63 is rockedclockwise as viewed in FIGURE 4, in opposition to the bias of the spring72 and the disabling cam 71 is shifted into active position, as shown bythe dot dash outline of the arm 65 wherein the cam 71 is in the path ofreturn movement of the pawl 34 and biases or holds it away from theratchet wheel perimeter so that in the succeeding advancing stroke ofthe pawl it idles past and clears the next succeeding one of the pawlshoulders 33 and does not cause indexing of the insert conveyor in that.

stroke or cycle of the machine. At the end of the cycle, opening of thenormally open cycling switch 58 deener gizes the solenoids 59 and 60.If, in the succeeding cycle the diiferentiating or sensing device ispassed by another one of the non-coded inserts 1%, there is againenergizattion of the solenoids 59 and 60 during closing of the cyclingswitch 58 and dwell of the track conveyor is pro- 'longed to receivesuch document in collated relation with the preceding document ordocuments of its group. If the indexing control system receives aconveyor advancing signal from the sensing device .by reason of a codedone of the inserts 19a passing through the sensing zone, the disablingor index pawl cutout device remains dormant or non-operating and theindexing pawl functions to eftect indexed advance of the insert trackconveyor.

Although the punched card coding 45 of the inserts 19a is an effectivedistinguishing or differentiating arrangement and is highly useful dueto the extensive use of punched card checks and the like, another andalternative type of coding which will function the same c'ornpnisesdifferentiating color coding the documents either by over all colordifferentiation or by color spot differentiation. For that type ofsensing, the light source is mounted as shown at 49' in FIGURE 2 todirect a beam of light onto and to reflect from that face of thedocument which opposes the diode or electric eye 47, which will read thecolor for which it is adjusted and thus ditferentiate between the colorsand generate a signal for indexing only when a document having thereadable co'lor passes through the sensing zone. For this type ofreading the diode and light source may be selectively either above orbelow the document.

Where the document groups comprise at least one docu ment which isundisitinguished by code characteristics pro ducing a response in thesensing device to go to each addressee and optionally one or morecompanion inserts which do have sensible coding means thereon such aspunched holes or color differentiation, the indexing control signalsystem is readily adjustable to function to signal the system to indexand advance the conveyor whenever a document passes through the sensingzone without any distinguishing, sensible characteristic, but to holdthe conveyor in a prolonged dwell, that is skip the indexing operationof the cycle, when a coded document passes through the sensing zone. Thenet result is, of course, the same as where the master insert is codedinstead of the master insert being uncoded. Operation is fully automaticin the continuous cycling operation of the machine.

I -It will be understood that modifications and variations may beeffected without departing from the scope of the novel concepts of thepresent invention.

We claim as our invention:

1. In' an inserter including means for supporting a stack of groups ofinserts comprising in each group at least a master insert and optionallyan indefinite number of companion inserts with sensibly difierentiatingidentification means on either the master insert or the companioninserts and means for withdrawing the inserts one-by-one from the stackand depositing them in an insert track including an insert conveyor withmeans for indexing intermittent advancing movements of the conveyor intimed relation to the withdrawing and delivering means, the improvementcomprising:

means for controlling operations of said indexing means includingsensing means responsive to said identification means for enablingfunctioning of the indexing means to advance the conveyor when a masterinsert is withdrawn from the stack and for disabling the indexing meansto hold the conveyor in a dwell when a companion insert is withdrawnfrom the stack to be collated with the master insert in the track.

2. An inserter as defined in claim 1, wherein the indexing means includea pawl and ratchet mechanism,

and said means for controlling operations of the indexing means comprisea pawl-engageable disabling device.

3. An inserter as defined in claim 2, wherein the means for controllingoperations of the indexing means include 5 a solenoid controlled by saidsensing means for operating said disabling device.

4. In an inserter including means for supporting a stack of groups ofinserts comprising in each group at least a master insert and optionallyan indefinite number of companion insertswith sensibly dilferentiatingidentification means on either the master insert or the companioninserts and means for withdrawing the inserts one-by-one from the stackand depositing them in an insert track including an insert conveyor withmeans for indexing intermittent advancing movements of the conveyor intimed relation to the Withdrawing and delivering means, the improvementcomprising:

a selectively operable disabling device operatively sociated with saidindexing means,

and sensing means distinguishing said identification means andcontrolling operations of said disabling device.

5. In an inserter including means for supporting a stack of groups ofins'ertscomprising in each group at least a master insert and optionallyan indefinite number of companion inserts with sensibly differentiatingidentification means on either the master insert or the companioninserts and means for withdrawing the inserts one-by-one from the stackand depositing them in an insert track including an insert conveyor withmeans for indexing intermittent advancing movements of the conveyor intimed relation to the withdrawing and delivering means, the improvementcomprising:

a selectively operable disabling device operatively associated with saidindexing means,

a solenoid 'for operating said disabling device, and sensing meansresponsive to said identification means for controlling said solenoid.

6. An inserter including means for supporting a stack of groups ofinserts comprising in each group at least a master insert and optionallyan indefinite number of companion inserts with'sensibly differentiatingmeans on either the master insert or the companion inserts,

means for withdrawing the inserts one-by-one from the stack,

an insert track for receiving the inserts from said Withdrawing meansand including a conveyor,

conveyor indexing means including a ratchet wheel and an indexing pawl,

means for reciprocably actuating said pawl in coordination with saidwithdrawing means for incrementally advancing the conveyor in timedrelationto the withdrawing means,

and pawl disabling means responsive to said difierentiating means andoperable to control said pawl to advance the indexing ratchet wheel foradvancing the conveyor whenever a master insert is withdrawn from thestack and to disable the pawl whenever a companion insert is withdrawnfrom the stack.

6 7. An inserter construction comprising indexing means for coordinatingoperations of an insert track conveyor with means for removing insertsfrom a stack and depositing them on the conveyor,

said indexing means including a rotatably mounted indexing ratchet wheelhaving circumferentially spaced ratchet shoulders,

a reciprocably mounted indexing pawl, means for reciprocably actuatingsaid pawl in timed relation to the insert removing and depositing means,and a pawl disabling device selectively operable to hold the pawlagainst indexing said indexing ratchet wheel in any selected cycle ofthe insert removing and depositing means to permit multiple insertdeposits on the conveyor between indexing of the conveyor.

8. An inserter construction as defined in claim 7, wherein saiddisabling device comprises a member which selectively holds the pawlagainst making engagement with a ratchet shoulder of the indexingratchet wheel While the pawl continues its normal reciprocating cycles.

9. In an inserter including means providing an insert track with anindexably movable conveyor,

means for supporting a stack of groups of inserts at one side of thetrack,

a rock shaft mounted above said track and having a gripper arm dependingtherefrom and oscillated in the rocking of the rock shaft,

said gripper arm having an insert gripping jaw,

a conveyor actuating shaft,

gear means for driving said shaft including a driving gear,

an indexing ratchet wheel mounted corotative with said driving gear,

oscillating means including a connection for oscillatably driving saidrock shaft and also including an indexing pawl,

means for continuously cyclically driving said oscillating means forcyclically rocking said rock shaft to move said gripping jaw into insertengaging relation to said insert supporting means to withdraw successiveinserts and deposit the same in said track while at the same timeeffecting indexing oscillations of the pawl to actuate said ratchetwheel and thereby indexably advance the conveyor in timed relation tosaid gripper arm,

and means for selectively disabling said pawl while it continues itsoscillating cycles to effect prolonged dwells for deposit in the trackof a plurality of inserts individually removed from the stack by thegripper arm.

10. In an inserter including means providing an insert track with anindexably movable conveyor,

means for supporting a stack of groups of inserts at one side of thetrack,

a rock shaft mounted above said track and having a gripper arm dependingtherefrom and oscillated in the rocking of the rock shaft,

said gripper arm having an insert gripping jaw,

a conveyor actuating shaft,

gear means for driving said shaft including a driving gear,

an indexing ratchet wheel mounted corrotative with said driving gear,

oscillating means including a connection for oscillatably driving saidrock shaft and also including an indexing pawl,

means for continuously cyclically driving said oscillating means forcyclically rocking said rock shaft to move said gripping jaw into insertengaging relation to said insert supporting means to withdraw successiveinserts and deposit the same in said track while at the same timeeffecting indexing oscillations of the pawl to actuate said ratchetwheel and thereby indexably advance the conveyor in timed relation tosaid gripper arm, and means for selectively disabling said pawl while itcontinues its oscillating cycles to effect prolonged dwells for depositin the track of a plurality of inserts individually removed from thestack by the gripper arm, said disabling means including:

a bell crank mounted oscillatably on the oscillating axis of said pawland including a disabling cam engageable in disabling relation with thepawl responsive to oscillation of the bell crank relative to the pawl,

means for normally holding the bell crank in an inactive position,

and means selectively operable to rock the bell crank into pawldisabling relation of said cam to the pawl.

11. In an inserter including means'providing an insert track with anindexably movable conveyor,

means for supporting a stack of groups of inserts at one side of thetrack,

a rock shaft mounted above said track and having a gripper arm dependingtherefrom and oscillated in the rocking of the rock shaft,

said gripper arm having an insert gripping jaw,

a conveyor actuating shaft,

gear means for driving said shaft including a driving gear,

an indexing ratchet wheel mounted corotative with said driving gear,

oscillating means including a connection for oscillatably driving saidrock shaft and also including an indexing pawl,

means for continuously cyclically driving said oscillat ing means forcyclically rocking said rock shaft to move said gripping jaw into insertengaging relation to said insert supporting means to withdraw successiveinserts and deposit the same in said track while at the same timeeffecting indexing oscillations of the pawl to actuate said ratchetwheel and thereby indexably advance the conveyor in timed relation tosaid gripper arm,

and means for selectively disabling said pawl while it continues itsoscillating cycles to effect prolonged dwells for deposit in the trackof a plurality of inserts individually removed from the stack by thegripper arm, said disabling means including:

a bell crank mounted oscillatably on the oscillating axis of said pawland including a disabling cam engageable in disabling relation with thepawl responsive to oscillation of the bell crank relative to the pawl,

means for normally holding the bell crank in an inactive position,

a solenoid connected to said bell crank,

and electrically operable means for selectively energizing the solenoidto rock the bell crank in opposition to said normal holding means forthe bell crank to move the disabling cam into disabling relation to thepawl.

12. An inserter including means for supporting a stack of groups ofinserts comprising in each group at least a master insert and optionallyan indefinite number. of companion inserts and wherein at least one ofsaid master and companion inserts carries differentiating means,

means for withdrawing the inserts one-by-one from the stack,

an insert track including a conveyor for receiving the inserts from saidwithdrawing means,

conveyor indexing means coordinated in operation with said withdrawingmeans,

and means for controlling operations of said indexing means responsiveto said differentiating means including:

a mechanical disabling device operatively associated with the indexingmeans,

electrical means for controlling said disabling device and including asensor responsive to said differentiating means,

an amplifier receiving signals from the sensor,

a relay signalled by the amplifier,

and a solenoid controlled by the relay and connected operatively to saiddisabling device,

whereby said conveyor is controlled in operation with said withdrawingmeans to keep the groups of inserts together on the conveyor althoughWithdrawn individually from the stack.

13. An inserter as defined in claim 12, wherein the electrical meansincludes in addition a normally open cycling switch which is cyclicallyclosed in the cycle of operations of the withdrawing means and which islocated between the relay and the solenoid. to close a circuit to thesolenoid timed with signalling of the relay but which switch is open ineach cycle to deenergize the solenoid and clear the disabling means sothat the solenoid will be energized to activate the disabling means onlyin response to signal received from the sensor through the amplifier andthe relay.

14. An inserter as defined in claim 12, including in addition to saidfirst mentioned means, at least one means for supporting a stack ofinserts and having means for withdrawing inserts for collating with thegroups of inserts successively, and means for controlling said lastmentioned withdrawing means including a control solenoid connected inparallel with said first mentioned solenoid and l G controlled by thesame sensor to amplifier to relay signal, to withdraw inserts inresponse to signals from the sensor.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 7/1943 Williams5357 1/1951 Ghertman 209l 10 EUGENE R. CAPOZIO, Primary Examiner.

NELSON M. ELLISON, Assistant Examiner.

1. IN AN INSERTER INCLUDING MEANS FOR SUPPORTING A STACK OF GROUPS OFINSERTS COMPRISING IN EACH GROUP AT LEAST A MASTER INSERT AND OPTIONALLYAN INDEFINITE NUMBER OF COMPANION INSERTS WITH SENSIBLY DIFFERENTIATINGINDENTIFICATION MEANS ON EITHER THE MASTER INSERT OR THE COMPANIONINSERTS AND MEANS FOR WITHHDRAWING THE INSERTS ONE-BY-ONE FROM THE STACKAND DEPOSITING THEM IN AN INSERT TRACK INCLUDING AN INSERT CONVEYOR WITHMEANS FOR INDEXING INTERMITTENT ADVANCING MOVEMENTS OF THE CONVEYOR INTIMED RELATION TO THE WITHDRAWING AND DELIVERING MEANS, THE IMPROVEMENTCOMPRISING: MEANS FOR CONTROLLING OPERATIONS OF SAID INDEXING MEANSINCLUDING SENSING MEANS RESPONSIVE TO SAID IDENTIFICATION MEANS FORENABLING FUNCTIONING OF THE INDEXING MEANS TO ADVANCE THE CONVEYOR WHENA MASTER INSERT IS WITHDRAWN FROM THE STACK AND FOR DISABLING THEINDEXING MEANS TO HOLD THE CONVEYOR IN A DWELL WHEN A COMPANION INSERTIS WITHDRAWN FROM THE STACK TO BE COLLATED WITH THE MASTER INSERT IN THETRACK.